Recognizing fascism (it’s on the ballot). So what is fascism? Fascists love to throw around this word to smear their opponents and confuse the facts. Confusing facts with lies is maybe the biggest hallmark of fascism. In a nutshell, fascism is the polar opposite of truth, freedom, democracy, civil rights and self determination. It is, as Yale history professor Timothy Snyder calls it, “a cult of unreason.” Fascism is the ruthless pursuit of power, typically by one charismatic leader. Fascists like to foment fear of “the other” and draw a cult-like following by promising to rid society of the elements they teach their followers to hate/fear. Threats of violence against political opponents are a big sign you’re looking at fascism. Here’s an easy checklist.
8 ways (better than Facebook) to stay informed. Fake news is free, because it’s junk. Loads of conspiracy theories, celebrity gossip and made-up nonsense is weaponized to spread like wildfire online. Meanwhile, quality journalism can be hard to access without paying for a monthly subscription. Here’s how to stay informed on a budget.
How to fight disinformation. Americans no longer operate on a common set of facts that inform our democracy. Social media algorithms feed us the sensational over the factual and push us toward extremism. Here are 5 essential tools to stay informed and stop the spread of disinformation.
Could ranked-choice voting help save democracy? Proponents of ranked-choice voting say RCV encourages less divisive campaigns (voters are still courted for their second and third choices, etc.) and ultimately supports more centrist or at least less extremist election outcomes.
Was Will McAvoy Right? In 2012, the broadcast journalist Aaron Sorkin/Jeff Daniels brought to life released a tirade of reasons America is no longer the greatest country in the world. How do the statistics he cited hold up? Actually, they’re much worse. “The Newsroom” may have been fiction, but American anxiety about our place in the world is real, and it has real consequences for our democracy.
